Moza Hurt (also known as Moses) was born in 1730, probably in or near Bedford County, VA. A number of records exist pertaining to his life.His land deeds, marriage records, and will, as well as records of his children's marriages, are all preserved. He held substantial amounts of land in three counties: Bedford, Halifax, and Caroline, and he bought and sold land all his life. He acquired land on the Rappahannock River, where he lived in St. Margaret's Parish in Caroline County. He was appointed Constable there in 1752.
Form 1755 to 1758 he was road-overseer. He married a young lady named Mary (last name unknown) by 1758. In 1763, at the urging of his wife, Moza gave some slaves to his then four children: Philemon,Jane, Bettie and Sarah. In 1776, the family moved to Bedford County(cut from Lunenburg County in 1753) where they bought 284 acres of land. The Hurts fought with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. It is not known if Moza fought, but he did supply aid to the Continental Army. The Bedford County Lists of Publick Claims filed by citizens lists Moza Hurt being returned provisions that had been collected in 1781 by Christopher Irvine. A Moses Hurt was recorded as having supplied 1 beef, 9 diets, and 4 pecks of corn. A Mosses Hurt supplied 2 diets and 2 pecks of corn.
In 1782, a new county, Campbell, was cut from Bedford County,where the Hurts had been living. Sometime by 1782, Moza's wife Mary died, and he moved to Halifax County (cut from Lunenburg County in 1752). Three and one half months before his second marriage, Moza persuaded his children to file a disclaimer to the slaves given them by Deed of Gift about 1763 in Caroline County.
He then married Phebe Vaden, daughter of William Vaden and Frances Wilson, on 10 Apr 1782. She was the widow of Robert Mann who had died of smallpox. {She was also the mother of Agnes Mann, who married Moza's son James Hurt}. The 1782 Heads of Households Census from Halifax County, VA, lists Moza Hurt with fourteen whites and nineteen blacks in the household The 1785 Heads of Families Census from Halifax County, Virginia, lists Moza Hurt with eight whites, one dwelling, and eight other buildings. Moza died in 1793 in HalifaxCounty. His sons, James and Philemon, were the executors of his will. Phebe died two years later in 1795.
--------------------------------------
Sources:
MARRIAGE: 1. "Marriage Bonds & Ministers' Returns of Halifax Co., VA"
Circuit Court Halifax Co., VA Book 1, Page 5 1793
Will: I Moza Hurt of Halifax County being in perfect health both ofbody mind, sence and memory thanks be to God for the same. Yetcalling to mind the uncertain state of this transitory life and thatit is appointed for all flesh once to die, do order constitute andordain this my last will and testament. It is my will and desire thatall my just debts be honestly paid by my executors hereafter named andas touching such worldly goods wherewith it hath be pleased God tobless me I do order give and dispose of in manner and form following:
Item: I give and bequeath to my son Philemon Hurt the land whereon henow lives containing two hundred and five acres to him and his heirsforever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son, James Hurt, the land whereon henow lives in Campbell County containing by served surveys about 617acres be the same more or less, to him and his heirs forever. And whereas each and every daughter heretofore married has had a horsebridle and saddle or something except my daughter Patience who is yet lacking a feather bed and furniture a cow and calf, it is my will and desire that she and also my daughter Prudence ery my Daughters have equal donations as near as possible and farther should it wit, Patience and Prudence Hurt, then and in that case my executor is hereby discharged from that duty.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Sara Prewitt two Negroes to? Job a Negro boy and Amy a negro girl to her and her heirs forever and further it is my will that she have no more of my estate in no pretence whatsoever but should Byrd Prewitt, husband of my daughterSarah or any of his heirs forever to claim on more of my estate than the said Job and Amy or any dissolve with the ? of my estate to be divided as hereafter mentioned and that he she or they so claiming have one shilling sterling paid to them out of my estate by executors and no more.
All the rest and residue of my estate whether real or personal it is my will and desire should be equally divided amongst all my children without exception except my daughter Sarah already excepted and whereas my poor daughter Jane is already departed this life it is my will that the part of my estate falling to her proportion be equally divided amongst her then other of my children having issue should die before the division of my estate, and should any my children die in their non age or without issue lawfully begotten then it is my will that their part of my estate shall desolve to the them and to them and their heirs forever. But whereas by the tender indulgence and earnest importunity of my wife in the year 1763 I believe I made a Deed of Life of sundry of my Negroes to my then four children Jane, Betty,Philemon and Sarah Hurt, now should each or any of my said children presume to claim by virtue of deed as they have given from under their hands and seals to the contrary the same being recorded in Campbell CountyCourt and whereas farther some years low and also to Michael Prewitt,Jr. and Betty his wife a Negro girl named Phillis, now should any mychildren aforesaid or their heirs claim by virtue said deed :or by virtue said loans they having had peaceable provision then and in either lease it is my will that he she or they so claiming shall be paid one shilling sterling out of my estate by my executors and no more; whether they might receive by law or not. ? it is my will and desire at my decease that my negroes are not only bought together for and appraisement but also for a division it is my will also that those who has had the greatest trouble in raising Negro children should have the preference on their choice.
I do appoint my son Philemon and my son James Hurt my whole and soul executors of this my last will and testament hereby resolving and disannulling all other will or wills heretofore by whereof I have hereunto set my hand I afforded my seal this 15th day of December annodom One thousand seven hundred and ninety-one.
Signed Sealed and Acknowledged in presence of us: William Mann, StithHarrison, Robert Mann, Polly Mann
Will: Halifax Co., VA Will Book 3, page 35 of 15 Dec 1791 & 28 Jan
Vol 36: Virginia Magazine p. 261 "List of Citizens furnishing Supplies, Arms, Teams etc. or rendering other service to the Continental Army, who received certificates calling for payments account thereof, at various sessions of the County Court of Campbell County between 7 March 1782 and 4 April 1783." MOZA HURT
Moza Hurt m. 18 Apr 1772, Phebe Mann, Halifax Co. Record
*Source: Marriages of Some Virginia Residents, 1607-1800, Dorothy Ford Wulfeck, Vol I, p. 343